US–China relations in the shadow of the future

Abstract

China is often seen as a rising power challenging the dominant position of the United States in the international system. Theory and history suggest that this is a dangerous situation, and Chinese leaders have called for a new type of great power relations. This article applies some of the concepts developed at SCICN in an effort to see how the risk of war might be mitigated. Four questions, relating to the future, to trust, to loss, and to equity, are discussed. These questions map well onto the China–US relationship and suggest ways in which the risk of war might be reduced. Past experience suggests that the challenge by a rising power can be dangerous, but the appropriate response is to focus on a shared future.

Keywords::

• new type great power relations
• relational barriers
• shared future
• trust
• loss
• equity
• China
• the United States

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the other contributors to this issue for their helpful comments on an earlier draft presented at an authors' conference. Thanks are also due to Tom Fingar, John Lewis, and Brad Roberts for their helpful comments.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by grants from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.